Crutch



' WITNESS Nov. 13, 1945. J. D. WHEELER 2,388,778

CRU'ICH Filed June 20; 1944 ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 13, 1945 OFFICE fcnorcn I John D. Wheeler, Vancouver, Wash. Application June 20,1944,Serial No. 541,154 3 Claims. (Cl. 135-49) The present invention relatesto improvements in crutches and has for its general object the provisionof an improved crutch which is more comfortable and convenient to usethan the ordinary crutch.

Another object of the invention is to provide a crutch comprising upperand lower tubular sections, each section beingadjustable as to lengthand adapted to be folded for a convenient placement in a position ofrest or storage when not in use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a crutch of the abovecharacter including an arm rest that is rockably mounted so as to reduceto a minimum soreness under the arms of the user.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a crutch which isof light and durable construction and one which will afford a maximum ofcomfort to the user.

The invention also consists in certain other features of constructionand in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to behereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing andspecifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing my invention in detail, reference will be hadto theaccompanying drawing wherein like characters denote like orcorresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure 1is a side elevation illustrating a crutch constructed in accordance withthe present invention.

Figure 2 is a viewin side elevation illustrating the crutch in foldedposition.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the upper section of thecrutch with parts being shown in elevation.

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view illustrating the manner of joiningthe upper section with the lower section.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on line 5-5 ofFigure 4.

Figure 6 is a sectional View similar to Figure 5 with the crutch infolded position.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the im proved crutch is generallydesignated in the several views by the reference numeral 8 and comprisesupper and lower sections generally designated by the reference numerals8 and Iii, respectively. The lower section it is of tubular formationand comprises the tubular members it and i2 arranged in telescopingrelation with the member i2 adjustably held within the member llby'means of a pin or the like It. The member' H has its upper portioncurving outwardly as indicated at it and is then ,bent at right anglesto form a hand grip 15. As more particularly shown in Figure 4 or thedrawing, the hand grip i6 is of tubular formation and retains thereinthe upper section 9. The upper section 9 comprises tubular members I8and il held in adjusted telescoping relation by means of a pin or thelike 18. The lower end of the member it extends at' right angles and isheld within the hand grip l5 as indicated I 'at it). The end as isrotatably held within the hand grip it so that the crutch may be foldedto the position shown in Figure 2. When in extended position, however,the end i9 is locked within the hand grip is by means of a pin 29carried on the end oi a leaf spring '2! riveted or otherwise secured asindicated at 22 to the hand grip I5. The pin 2d fits within an opening28 formed in the end it, a pair of such openings be= ing provided sothat said end 19 may be locked when the upper section is either extendedor folded.

The upper end of the member I'd also extends at right angles and issubstantially parallel to the end l9, said upper end being designated bythe numeral 2d. The end it is disposed within a channel 25 formed in thebase 26 of the arm rest 2'8. The base 26 is pivotally connected to theend 25 by means of a pin or the like 2&3 whereby the arm rest 27 willrock on its pivot as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 1. The rockingof the arm rest ill materially reduces or eliminates soreness under thearms of the user.

The improved crutch in accordance with the present invention isadjustable from either its upper or lower section. Adjustment of theupper section is occasioned by the necessity for decreasing orincreasing the distance between the arm rest 2; and the hand grip 15 assome users may have longer or shorter arms than other users. Adjustmentof the lower section is occasioned by the height of the user but wheneither section has been adjusted and locked by means of their respectivepins, further movement is precluded. When desiring to fold the section 9relative to the section It, the pin it is retracted from the opening 23and the former section swung downwardly to the position shown in Figure2. Thepin 28 is then replaced in its corresponding opening 23 forlocking the sections in their folded position.

A rubber cap is is frictionally held on the lower end of the tubularmember 52, said cap being of the type conventionally employed forpreventing slipping of the crutch when in use.

Also it will be understood, of course, by those skilled in the art thatvariations in the hereinabove described device involving thesubstitution of substantial equivalents for the devices described areintended to be comprehended within the spirit of thepresent inventionand'that the invention is capable of extended application and is notconfined to the exact showing of the drawing nor to the preciseconstruction described and, therefore, such changes and modificationsmay be made therein as do not afiect the spirit of the invention norexceed the scope thereof as expressed in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

eluding upper and lower tubular members, said lower member beingtelescopically held within i said upper member, said upper memberhaving 1. A walking crutch comprising upper and lower sections, eachsection including telescoping tubular members, an arm rest carried bysaid upper section, a hand rest carried by said lower section, and meansfor foldably mounting said upper section relative to said lower section.

2. A walking crutch comprising upper and lower detachable sections, andan arm rest carried by said upper section, said lower section initsupper portion curved outwardly and bent inwardly at substantially rightangles to the vertical plane to form a hand grip, the lower end of saidupper section being pivotally mounted within said hand grip whereby saidsections may be folded together.

3. A walking crutch comprising upper and lower detachable sections, saidupper section including upper and lower tubular members, said lowermember telescoping within said upper member, the free end of said uppermember being bent at right angles to form a support for an arm rest, thefree end of said lower member being bent at right angles in a planeparallel to the bent end of said upper member, said lower sectionincluding upper and lower tubular members, said lower member thereoftelescoping within said upper member thereof, andmeans for foldablmounting said upper section relative to said lower section.

JOHN DQWHEELER.

